Buckle



Nov. s, 1927. 1,648,062

H. W. RUSSELL BUCKLE Filed- Feb 5. 1926 Patented Nov. 8, 1927.. f i i L nutren stares 'wenn HOWARD W. nussnnn, or oontneswoon, NEW JERSEY.

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.Application vfiled Ii'ebruary.5;v i926. Serial No. 86,114.

effected by means of a buckle permanently connected with the front Wallrandprovided with a longitudinal row ofv perforations lulapted to receive the tongueof the buckle. This form of fastening, While reliable and capable of longitudinal adjustmentl so Vas to increase or decrease the capacity of the case or bag, is objectionable in that the opening and'closing of the casef'or bag can only be accomplished slowly and therefore is not Well suited for use Where it is desirable to open and close the case or bag quickly or promptly.

VIt is the object of this invention to provide a buckle which not only possesses the capacity of longitudinal adjustment 'for the purpose of adapting the capacity of the bag to the amount of material Which is to becarried therein but also perinits'of quickly disconnectingl the strap from the front Wall of the case so as to enable access to the contents thereof to be obtained promptly and Without delay; this being particularly necessary When a salesman Wishes to display a line of goods to a prospective customer ora lawyer Wishes to submit materials contained in the brief ease to a court. f

lVith this object in View this invent-ion consists generally in a. fastening or buckle which can not only be readily adjusted lengthwise for varying the capacity of the case or bag but also permits of quickly opening or closing the case or bag when this is necessary. y r

ln the accompanying drawings: k Figure 1 is a fragmentary frontelevation of a. brief case or bag equipped with kone form of my invention. i 'Figure 2 is a cross section of the taken on line 2 2, Fig. l.

Figure` 3 is a perspective View of the rear section of the buckle or fastener shown in Figs. 1 and 2. l f Figure 4 is a similar View of the tion thereof.

front sec- Heretofore the connection between each of these straps and the front Wall Was usually Figure is a `fragmentary rear View of the rear section of thejbuckle or fastener shown in Fig; 4.

Figure 6 is a longitudinalsection taken on line 646 Fig. 1.

Figure l' is a perspective viewl of a modilied form of the rear sect-ion of the buckle or fastener embodying my improvements.

Figure 8 is a perspective vieu7 of the front section of ksucha modified form.

Figure@ is a crosssection of the buckle containing themodilied form ofvrear and front sect-ions shoivnin Figs. 7 and 8, this .section being taken on the line corresponding to Fig. 2. y Figure 10 is a rearview of the front buckle section shown in Fig. 8.' f

y Figure 11 isa fragmentary longitudinal section of thelbuckle shown in Figs. 7 to 10 and corresponding to Fig. 6. y

Figure 12 is a perspective viewof another modification `in the form of the rear buckle section containing my invention.

:Iiigure 13 is a cross section of a buckle containing the modified form of rear section shoivn in Fig. .12, this last mentioned section being taken on a line corresponding .to Figs.` 2 and 9 and showing the front and rear sections .of the buckle in an interlocked position.

- Figure 14- is a fragmentary rear elevation of a modified form of the front buckle section adapted to cooperatewith themo'dified or rearbuckle section'shoivn in Fig. 12.

Figure 1.5 is a fragmentary cross section similar to Fig. 13 but showing front and rear sections in the position in ywhich they have been unlocked from eachy other.`

` The numeral 10 represents the front Wall of a brief case, traveling bag or similar article, 11 thefront flap of the same `and 12 one of the fastening straps which is permanently connected at its upper end with the flap and adapted to be adjustably and detachably connected atit-s lower endwith the front Wall for the purpose of varying' the capacity vof the'bag and alsoto permit of opening the bag in orderto gain access to its interior. The strap for use in connection with the preferred form of mybuckle is Aprovided with a longitudinalrow of openings 113 Which by preference are arranged midway between the longitudinal edges of the same.

v.legniir lorries.

VIn its general organization `this bucklecomprises a front section which is mounted on the strap so that the latter is capable of longitudinal adjustment on this front section and also capable of complete detachment therefrom, and a reai' section which is permanently connected with the front wall ot the brief case or bag and with which said front section may be quickly connected and disconnected and also adjusted lengthwise,

thereof for aiding in increasing or Idecreasing the capacity of the-case or bag. In the form of the front buckle section as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings the saine is constructed as follows r" n 'The numeral 14C represents a base* platey which is adapted to engage with the rear side of the strap 12 and is provided about4 engages with the iront side of the strap and presses it against the base 14 so that this strap is clamped between the cam and base and thereby held against .longitudinal movement independently `of or inaddition to the effect .which is produced by the adjusting pin 15 engaging with a hole 13 of this strap. The construction of this cam or eccentric 17 is such that an upward pull of the strap will cause the cam to become tighter in proportion to the increasing pulling eiiect on the saine so that the strap will be reliably clamped on thebase and held against longitudinal movement thereon even though the sti'ap does not ktit tightly over the pin 15,.

The turning of the cam 17 into and out 'of'its operative position is preferably effected by means of an Voperating arm 1 8 which preferably projects downwardly therefrom and is constructed of springy sheet metal which in the locked or clamping position ot the cani lies close to the front side of the strap.` In order to hold the operating arm in this position the lower part of the same is'provided witha locking opening 19 which receives the front end of the adjusting pin 15 and lis interloeked with the latter by engagement of the upper oi' inner edge of the opening 19 with'a locking notch 2() on theV upper side of the adjusting pin. This vnotch forms a ,shoulder underneath 'which the upper edge of the arm openinof 19 is 2l the under sides of which forni shoulders which are adapted to engage with opposite klongitudinal edge portions et the operating arm 18 in the locked position of the latter and therefore aid in holding this arm in this operative position in addition to the locking eifect which is produced by an engagement of this arm with the adjusting pin 15. Upon pressing the operating arm inwardly or backwardly toward the strap its opposite longitudinal edge portions are flexed in order to clear the locking lips 21 and when this aiiii has reached the end of its inward motion its `edges due to the resilience of the material ot" which this arm is made again spring apart and engage with the under side ot' these lips. Such tlexing ot' the edges of this operating arm again occurs when the saine is moved outwardly in order to enable this arm to clear these lips and release the same from the adjusting pin 15 as well as swinging the cam 17 int-o its opened or unclamped position.

rhe closing of the iront buckle section is ellected by al pressure of the hand or lingers against the operating arm 18, but the opening ol the saine may be eliected quickly, easily and conveniently by simply pulling the free lower end of the strap 'forwardly or awa-y from the base of the ifront buckle section.

The rear buckle section and the means whereby the saine is detachably and adjustably connected with the 'f1-oni buckle section are constructed as follows:

The numeral 22 represents a longitudinal adjusting or coupling plate which is arranged in iront ol the wall 10 ot the brief case or bag but spacedapart therefrom by making this adjusting plate as a part of a channel shaped member. the web ot' which forms the adjusting plate and the legs 23 ot which project rearwardly 'from opposite longitudinal edges of the web and are connected with the wall ot the case or bag 10 by means of rivets 2l or other suit-- able means.

The adjusting plate or web is provided with a longitudinal row ol transverse locking slots 25 each ot which is preferably enlarged at its center and reduced at its opposite ends, as shown by tull lines in Fig. 3 and by dotted lines in Fig. l. (ln its underside the base o'l the l'ront buckle section is provided with a coupling button which has an elongated head 26 and a reduced neck 27 connecting the central part olt this head with the rear side of the base lll so that this button has generally a T-sliaped loi-in and is enlarged at its center while its opposite Ill ends are narrow in order to conform to the shape of the transverse slots in the coupling plate 22. The head of the coupling button and the slots of the adjusting `plate 22 are so arranged that in the normal operative position of the front and rear buckle sections these slots and the head of the coupling button are arranged at an angle relatively to each other. In the preferred construction the slots in the web or adjusting plate of the rear section are arranged at right angles to the length of this web, and the head of the coupling button is arranged obliquely relative to the length of the base plate 14 and to the length of said web. Due to this construction it is necessary to turn the front buckle section sufficiently in a plane parallel with the reary buckle section in order to bring the head of the coupling button into register with one of the transverse slots of the rear buckle section. When thusbrought into register the head of the coupling button may be moved rearwardly or inwardly through the respective slot of the rear buckle section and afterthis head has passed inwardly beyond the rear side of the adjusting plate or web 22 the front buckle section may be then moved in a. reverse direction into its normal position whereby the opposite ends of the coupling head are carried underneath the diagonall)7 opposite edge portions or locking faces 28 of the respective slot in the adjusting plate or web, whereby the front section of the buckle is interlocked with the rear buckle section. For the purpose of detaching the front buckle section from the rear buckle section the operation above described is reversed, namely, the front buckle section is turned so as to carry the opposite ends of the coupling head from underneath the edge portions of the adjusting plate or web and into line with the respective slot 25 after which the coupling head may be withdrawn through said slot and the front buckle section detached from the rear buckle section.

Such connection and disconnection of the front and rear buckle sections can be effected very quickly and the front buckle section can also be adjusted lengthwise on the rear buckle section by shifting the couplinghea-d Jfrom one slot to another in the rear section. It will therefore be apparent that the actual opening and closing of the brief case or luggage can be effected very quickly without disturbing the adjustment of the front buckle section on the strap and that an increase or decrease in the capacity of the bag can be accomplished when desiredA by shifting the coupling head from one slot 25 to another and also by shifting the front buckle section lengthwise on the strap the reouired extent.

For the purpose of facilitating the disengagement of the co-upling head of the front buckle section from the slot of the rear buckle section means are provided which operate automatically to lift the coupling head of the front buckle section out of the respect-ive slot of the rear buckle section as this coupling head is turned backwardly, and also to arrest suchbackward movement of the head when the same is in register or alineinent with the respective slot so that withdrawal of this head from the respective slot can be made. quickly, conveniently and without annoyance. Various means may be provided for thus stopping the rotary movement of the coupling head as the same is turned backwardly from underneath the edge portions of the webv or adjusting plate 22 and also automatically lifting this head out of the respective slot in this web or plate. ln thc construction shown in Figs. 2, 3 and G this is accomplished by providing the web or plate 22 with inclines 29 on the underside of the diagonally opposite edge portions of the slots 25 which are the reverse of the diagonally opposite edge portions of these slots which are normally engaged by the opposite ends of the coupling head 26 while the latter is interlocked with this adjusting plate or web 22. These inclines 29 are formed in the construction shown in Figs. 2, 3 and G by bending downwardly portions of the metal of the plate 22 at diagonally opposite ends of the opening which forms each of the slots 25, thereby concealing these inclines on the inner side of the rear buckle section and leaving the frontside of the same free and unobstructed and producing a structure which can be produced at low cost and capable of being wiped off and kept clean easily. After the coupling head is brought opposite the desired coupling slot 25, an inward or backward pressure against the front buckle sect-ion will cause the coupling head 26 to pass through this slot and engage its ends with the inclines 29 so that these ends are shifted underneath the locking edges 28 of the web. f This movement is aided by the resilience or torqueof the strap 12 which operates automatically to again turn the front buckle section forwardly so that its opposite ends engage with the inwardly facing locking faces 28 on the under side kof the web and thereby hold the front and real` buckle sections in an interlocked position. Upon manually turning the front buckle section backyardly while the same is thusinterlocked with the rear section the opposite ends of the coupling head 26 will engage the. inclines 29 and obstructs the turning movement of this head upon coming into register with the respective slot 25 and upon continuing this backward rotary motion of the front buckle section these inclines 29 will lift or move the head 2G outwardly through the respective slot 25 and automatically disengage the same from the rear buckle seci Litt iii) tion, whereby the two sections of the buckle are uncoupled and the brief case or luggage bag isfree to be opened.

, rlhis automatic guiding of the coupling head into engagement with the locking faces of the coupling plate and the automatic disengagement of said headk therefrom may also be effected by the equivalent means which are shown in Figs. 7 to 11 in which caseinlines 30 are formed on diagonally opposite edge portions of the slots 25 by bending up portions of the metal which is displaced or struck out of the stock of the plate 22 in the formation of the end portions of the slots 25. When the inclines 30 are thus formed on the upper side of the web 22 the same are engaged by rearwardly facing inclined lugs 31 formed on the rear side of the base plate 14, on diametrically opposite sides of the coupling button, vas shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11. The operation of guiding the coupling head into each of the slots 25 and also moving the same outwardly automatically is the same with reference to the construction shown in Figs. 7 to 11 as set forth with reference to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, andV the samel description as to' this operation therefore applies to both of these constructions.

Another modified means for automatically guiding the coupling head into the slots 25 and also lifting the same therefrom is shown in Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15. In this last mentioned construction the coupling or adjusting plate 14 is provided on its under or rear side and on diametrically opposite sides of the adjusting pin 15 with inclined lugs 32 which are adapted to engage with longitudinal ribs 33 on opposite edges of the web 22, and each of the lugs 32 is provided at the rear end of its inclined face with a stop shoulder 84 adapted to engage with the inner side of one of the ribs 33, as shown in Fig. 15 and thereby limit the backward rotation of the front buckle section when the same has been turned suiciently in this direction to lift this head out of the respective slot 25 in the rear buckle section. These inclined lugs 32 also assist in guiding the coupling head 26 into the slots 25 upon assembling the front and rear buckle sections in the manner described with reference to Figs. 1 to 11.

The various forms of this invention above described and illustrated in the drawings provide a buckle, fasteniiig or clasp for use on brief cases andluggage bags which permit of quickly, easily and conveniently opening' the case. or bag and also enable the capacity of the case or bag to be readily adjustedA to suit various requirements. Furthermore this buckle can be produced at comparatively low cost so that its advantages may be built into a case or bag without any substantial increase in cost of manufacture.

Moreover this buckle is of simple construction and capable of being operated without requiring special skill or instruction and therefore is not objectionable as would be the case if previous experience were necessary in order to manipulate the same and secure its full advantage.

I claim as my invention:

1. A buckle comprising front and rear sections which are adapted to bc mounted respectively on the parts to be connected, said rear section having a web which is raised above the surface of the part to which it is secured and which is provided with a longitudinal row of slots, said front section being provided on its rear side with a T-shaped coupling button the head of which is connected by a neck with the front section, said head being adapted .to pass through one or another of said slots and to be turned into cngagementwith the underside of said web, said head and each of said slots beingynormally arranged at an angle relatively to each other, and cooperating cam surfaces arranged on said front and rear sections for moving said head out of each slot by a rotary movement of said yfront and rear sections relatively to each other.

2. A buckle comprising front and rear sections which are adapted to be mounted ref spectively on the parts to be connected, said rear section having a web which is raised above the surface of the part to which it is secured and which is provided with a longitudinal row of slots and said front section being provided on its rear side with a T- shaped coupling button the head of which is connected by a neck with the front section, said head being adapted to pass through one or another of said slots and to be turned into engagement with the underside of said web, said head and each of said slots being normally arranged at an angle relatively to each other, and said web being provided on its underside adjacent to each slot with an ineline adapted to be engaged by said head upon turning the latter in one direction for moving said head out of the respective slot.

3. A buckle comprising front and rear sections which are adapted to be mounted respectively on the parts to be connected, said rear section having a web which is raised above the surface of the part to which it is secured and which is provided with a longitudinal row of slots, and said front section being provided on its rear side with a T- shaped coupling button the head of which is connected by a neck with the front section, said head being adapted to pass through one or another of said slots and to be turned into engagement with the underside of said web, said head and each of said slots being normally arranged at an angle relatively to each other and said web being provided on its under side adjacent to diagonally opposite edge lll) lill) portions of said slot With inclines adapted to be engaged by opposite ends of said head upon turning the latter in one direction for moving said head out of the respective slot.

4. A buckle comprising front and rear seotions which are adapted to be mounted respectively on the parts to be connected, said rear section having a web Which is raised above the surface of the part to which itis secured and whichv is provided with a longitudinal row of slots, and saidr front section being provided on its rear side With a T- yshaped coupling button the head of Which is other and said Web being provided on its un-y derside adjacent to diagonally opposite edge portions of said slot With nclines adapted to Vbe engaged by opposite ends of said head upon turning the latter in one direction for moving said head out of the respective slot, said 1ncl1nes consisting of parts which are bent from the stock of said web in forming said slotstlierein.

In testimony whereof I hereby aiix my signature.

HOWARD W. RUSSELL. 

